The two Dogberries.
Governor Seymour has followed the impetuous Kentucky Bramblette (a small briar) in issuing his proclamation against military interference at the polls.
Bramblette tells the
civil officers of
Kentucky that they must not permit military interference at the polls; that if military officials present themselves so to interfere, they must be arrested; but that if they come with force too great the sheriffs holding elections at such place, so militarily beset, shall close the polls and go their ways.
Governor Seymour does not speak of the contingency of superior force, but tells the sheriffs they must, in case of military interference, exercise the "full force of law," and call out, "if need be," "the power of their districts."
These Dogberry Executive officers, in their orders to the sheriffs to " comprehend" all military persons about the polls, do not comprehend their situations nor the circumstances surrounding them.--States and State rights have been long dead in the hearts of the
Northern people, and are now dead politically; and they, as
Governors of States, have no more life and power than so many wax-figures of departed heroes in a show.
They may talk largely; they may even threaten; but what can they do?
Nothing.
Lincoln is
Imperator.
He may defy them, and does defy them.
He will send his spies and military officials just where he pleases.
They may talk of resistance, and they may call for troops; but, like spirits called from the vasty deep, they will not come.
Bramblette evidently fears as much, when he advises his sheriffs to secede from the polls and leave them in the hands of the military when they appear in force.
Lincoln regards the proclamations of these ghostly governors very much as the lion did
Don Quixote.
The
Don ordered the cage door to be opened, and challenged the lion to combat.
The lion regarded the chevalier for a moment, and turning himself about, presented his hinder parts at the door for the contemplation of the knight, and then laid himself down quietly to sleep.
